Between Archeology and Nature

Witness the remains of an ancient Roman city perched on a breathtaking promontory, and the hydraulic engineering of its ancient port. To reach it we will have to cross the Orbetello Lagoon and push hard on our pedals on Ansedonia’s upland, surrounded by the perfumes of the Mediterranean vegetation. We will end the ride with a final sprint to the beach and its blue sea. After a swim and a light lunch, we cycle off on a flat path towards Burano Oasis, the first WWF Oasis in Italy. Then, we will return to the town of Orbetello by bike or by train.

Min 4 people

Duration:

Full day

Places of interest:

Technical data:

CITY BIKE (and possibility to come back by train) medium difficulty level due to a steep uphill which, if too demanding, can be overcome by pushing the bike with a quick walk. Start and finish at La Stazioncina Bistrò, via Lungolago dei Pescatori 2, Orbetello.

Details

Description

Orbetello, Ansedonia, Lago di Burano (21 km bicycle ride, mainly flat itinerary with one demanding uphill stretch. The way back is by train, but you can choose to return by bicycle instead, adding 13 km to your trip).

Start at La Stazioncina Bistrò, via Lungolago dei Pescatori 2, Orbetello: choose your bicycle and off we go along the Laguna di Ponente. Riding along the lagoon, we plunge into the Feniglia Pinewood, where we can smell the scents of the Mediterranean vegetation and see all its wild animals.

Exiting the pinewood, we will begin the uphill climb that leads us to the Ansedonia Promontory, a hill covered in Mediterranean vegetation. Here we will visit the ancient Roman settlement of Cosa.
Descend to the beach of Capalbio to enjoy our packed lunch near the Spaccata Etrusca, an evocative artificial crack that represents a magnificent work of Roman hydraulic engineering.

In the afternoon, after a pleasing ride on an even path, we will enter the Burano Oasis (first WWF oasis in Italy). Enjoy a coffee break, and then we’re off to catch a train back to Orbetello with our bicycles.

If the group wishes to, there is the option of returning by bicycle traveling through the same itinerary (13 km extra).

Meals

The tour provides a packed lunch.

How to Arrive

By train
Orbetello is located on the Roma-Pisa train line, reachable in two hours from both Rome Termini Station and Pisa Central station. If you arrive from Florence, take the train towards Pisa Centrale and then change train from there.

By car
Orbetello is reachable through the Aurelia State Road. Those who arrive from the Grosseto area need to drive down the Aurelia for roughly 40 km and exit at Orbetello.
Those arriving from the South, Rome or Civitavecchia need to drive up Aurelia and exit at Orbetello.

Coordinates GPS 42° 26′ 13.59″ N 11° 12′ 34,50

Price

35€/person (children under 14 years old half price)

The tour includes:
Vintage bicycle rental; BicieVento membership card; environmental guide in the required language; technical assistance before and during the trip; illustrations and naturalistic and historic facts; packed lunch.